Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“Just say what you’re trying to say, Talon.” Mac looked at his friends and saw the sympathy reflected back in his eyes.
“Mac, this is where your mom did the transfer. When it was over, she disintegrated into tiny embers.”
“Okay?”
“I think she kept a tiny kernel of power and manipulated what we saw to make us leave. She had taken physical form to complete the transfer.”
“Can you stop beating around the bush to him.” Terran pushed Talon away. “Mac, your mother… it looks like her physical form was stuck when she died, and instead of disappearing back to her element, she was turned. I can’t tell if it was an attack from the Darkness, or what, but she is frozen behind us.”
Mac swallowed loudly before he closed his eyes, and a tear fell. “When I was little, my father told me he was going to pass beyond the veil and that even if there was nothing left of him, he would be with me. I begged him, actually begged him to somehow stay, or leave a piece of himself. Something I could visit, to talk to when I needed to, anything. My mother held me a lot that cycle, she held me as I cried missing my father, and she made me a promise. She promised to somehow, some way, leave something of herself that I could visit.” Mac’s lip trembled. “Let me see it.”
The others parted and Mac stepped up to the last remnant of his mother. There, in the center of the room where Araiya and her mother saved almost everyone he cared for, was his mother’s last gift. A lava stone statue of not only her physical form, but also his fathers, in a final embrace. A laugh bubbled up, surprising the others, as a few tears fell from Mac’s face.
“I know the lady is your mom, but who is the man?” Talon walked closer.
“That’s my father.” Mac wiped his tears.
“I had no idea he had a physical form. I never saw any of the Elements or Elementals. Did they all have forms?” Talon leaned closer.
“Yes, they didn’t take their forms often after we were grown, but they did,” Terran answered.
“My mother liked the form of one of the creatures of The Deep, the Mer. Bottom half is an iridescent fin that attracts its prey, top half looks like us, but they have sharp teeth and venomous quills off the ear.”
Talon whipped around. “The Mer are real? I thought they were just a story made up to scare the little Other children.”
“Not a story, angry little fuckers too. My mother, before she passed beyond the veil, spent a lot of time in The Deep. She brought me along when I was old enough to survive the pressure. It is a whole different realm down there, new creatures, the scape, the ruler.” River shivered. “I never want to go to The Deep again.”
“The ruler? Don’t you rule the oceans?” Terran, as confused as the others, asked. “I rule all of the land.”
“Do you? Did you know there is land beyond The Deep? There is another land mass that holds all of the Elements, but we do not go there, so how do you know if you rule it?” River countered. “I once thought I ruled all of the Water, but my mother corrected that assumption quickly. I was not the first child born from Water, but I am the only born from the element and elemental of Water. You might find out that the same might be true about yourself.” River shrugged and started up the ramp. “Let us leave McKenna alone with his parents for a visit. We have to check the Keep to make sure it is safe.”
“I can help.” Mac turned away from the statue. “I saw them in the in-between, and now that this is here, I can visit anytime. Plus, you won’t get far without me. Once my mother passed the safety measures would have kicked in.”
“Safety measures?” Talon started up after River, while Terran stayed with Mac just in case.
“Yeah, you will see it soon enough.” Mac laughed when he heard River curse farther up.
“What the fuck, Mac?”
“I did say there were safety measures.”
“I thought it was like an illusion.” River stood in front of a white boulder shaking his hand.
“Just move the rock. I’ll help.” Talon ran up and right before he put his hand on the rock, River smacked his hand away. “Ow. Why did you hit me?”
“It’s hot, you moron. I am currently healing the burn on my own hand, because I was just as stupid as you are.” River shoved his hand at Talon, as the burn on his hand started to heal over and regrow the skin he lost.
“How is it white hot, but isn’t putting out any heat?” Terran approached the rock with his hands outstretched.
“Wouldn’t be a safety measure if a person could tell it was hot.” Mac chuckled. “My mother kept the lava from rising with her power. My father chose this volcano because it was the most violent, and without the power to Keep it at bay, it would fill up and destroy who ever if there was ever an attack. I am sure you all have your own safety features built into your keeps.”
“I honestly can say I have no idea. Not the Enforcer, so I don’t get the secrets.” Talon shrugged.
Mac chuckled and gestured everyone to stand back. He moved the boulder and behind the stone, the entire hallway was filled with lava. Mac made a gesture and the lava drained away. The hallway beyond cooled quickly as Mac sucked the fire and heat into his body. He shuddered as he walked forward. As he walked forward, his skin started to flake away.
“Mac.” River waited at the beginning of the hallway, waiting for it to cool.
“I am almost there.”
“Mac.” River called to him.
“One more minute.” Black patches were growing all over his body.
“MCKENNA.”
“What, River?” Mac yelled back as he settled everything. He tried to turn, and he gasped. Too much, he pushed it too much. The others were coming toward him. “WAIT. Get back. I don’t want to hurt you. Shield. Oh Goddess, shield, shield, shield.” He screamed one final time before he erupted. The fire filled the hallway and slammed into the shields that the others had just slammed into place.